Following eight weeks of demolition, the site has been cleared as part of the #800m Grosvenor development in the city centre.

The building has been pulled down to make way for new shopping and leisure facilities.

The hotel site itself will eventually become a multi-screen cinema and part of the John Lewis store that will replace the existing Church Street store.

Grosvenor's project director Rod Holmes said: "The Moat House has been a feature of the city for a long time.

"Its demolition marks a significant moment in the Paradise Project. With every occasion of this nature, we take one step closer to realising regeneration of the Paradise Street area."

Since November 2004 when the project started, a great deal has been achieved; the bus station in Canning Place and multi-storey John Lewis car park are on target for completion towards the end of this year.